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If a person intends to obtain a certified copy of a death entry (or commonly known as Death Certificate), he/she can apply for a search of death records and/or a certified copy of a death entry. 

In support of an application for a certified copy of a death entry, the applicant is required to produce the original or photocopy of the certified copy of a death entry previously issued to him/her or the result of previous search of death records. If the applicant cannot produce such kinds of documents or the death registration number on the documents cannot be read, he/she will be required to apply for a search of death records in the first instance.

Particular Search 

• A search for any given entry in relation to an identified person (i.e. the deceased’s exact name and date of birth [if available] can be provided for the search). The search conducted will not exceed a period of five years.
• Unless otherwise specified by the applicant, the search will be conducted on the year of death as provided (e.g. 1990). In case no matched record is found against the year of death provided, the search will be conducted with two years preceding and two years following the year of death provided, with a period of five years in total. (by the above example, i.e. 1988-1992)

 General Search 

• A search for any entry other than ‘Particular Search’, for example, in relation to a deceased whose personal information cannot be specified (i.e. the deceased’s exact name and/or exact date of birth cannot be provided for the search).

Application for a search of death records and a certified copy of a death entry can be made in person, by post or online.

In Person 

If the application is made in person, the applicant can go to one of the following registries: 

• The Births and Deaths General Register Office
• Hong Kong Island Deaths Registry
• Kowloon Deaths Registry
• Sha Tin District Births Registry
• Tseung Kwan O Births Registry
• Tuen Mun District Births Registry

Addresses and office hours of Births and Deaths Registries

By Post

If the application is made by post, the applicant should send the application to:

The Births and Deaths General Register Office 
3/F, Low Block
Queensway Government Offices
66 Queensway, Hong Kong 

Application form for a search of death record [Form BDR41]

Application form for a certified copy of a death entry [Form BDR62]

Underpaid mail items will not be accepted by the Immigration Department. For proper delivery of your mail items, please ensure your mail items bear sufficient postage with return address before posting. (Details)

Online

The application can also be made online by clicking on the hyperlink under “Related Topics”:

For an application made in person, the applicant needs to produce his/her Hong Kong identity card or valid travel document. If he/she applies for a certified copy of a death entry, he/she will be required to produce the original or photocopy of the certified copy of the death entry or the result of a previous search of death records. Otherwise, he/she will need to apply for a search of death records in the first instance. For an application submitted by post or online, he/she will need to produce the relevant documents at the time of collection.

Applying in Person

It takes about 10 minutes to process an in-person application at the counter. If the requested death record has been converted into a computer record, a search result and/or a certified copy of the death entry will be issued within 10 minutes. Otherwise, the processing time required is as follows (working days denote Monday to Friday excluding General Holidays): 

• 7 working days for a search of death records
• 7 working days for issue of a certified copy of a death entry (if search of record is not involved)
• 10 working days for a search of death records and issue of a certified copy of a death entry

For a General Search of death record, there is no pledged processing time. The applicant will be notified separately when the result is ready. 

Online Applications 

It takes 10 to 20 minutes to process an online application. The applicant will be notified when to collect the search result and the certified copy of a death entry at his/her selected registry.

Search of Death Records

• HK$140 for Particular Search
• HK$680 for General Search

 Certified Copy of a Death Entry

• Local Applications: HK$140 per copy
• Overseas Applications: HK$275 per copy plus an additional amount equivalent to the airmail postage at the normal rate

In person

By cash, EPS, Octopus, FPS, Mainland China’s Licensed Digital Wallets (Alipay, WeChat Pay and UnionPay App only) , or by crossed cheque or cashier's order (payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region") in Hong Kong currency.

By post

By crossed cheque or cashier’s order (for local applications) or bank draft (for overseas applications) in Hong Kong dollars payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". Post-dated cheques will not be accepted. All applications submitted by post can also be paid via online¹. Please do not send in cash.

Online 

For search of death records, the fee should be paid online; for a certified copy of a death entry, the application fee should be paid at the time of collection at the selected registry.

¹ If applicant opts to pay via online, he/she has to use the same payment method to settle all payments of the application. We will contact the applicant for the payment arrangement after receiving the application.

Applying In Person 

If the application is made in person, the applicant should collect the search result and/or certified copy of the entry concerned at the Births / Deaths Registry where he/she made the application.

The uncollected search result and/or the certified copy of the entry concerned will be cancelled six months after the date of application.

Applying By Post 

If the application is made by post, the search result and/or certified copy of the entry concerned will be sent to the applicant by post.

Applying Online 

If the application is made online, the applicant is required to collect in person the search result and/or the certified copy of the entry concerned at the selected registry.

When the online application is completed, the collection date will be shown on the acknowledgement receipt. The applicant is reminded to print or save the acknowledgement receipt, or write down the application reference, collection date and selected registry for collection. The applicant will be required to produce the printout or provide the application reference number upon collection at the selected registry.

The uncollected search result and/or the certified copy of the entry concerned will be cancelled six months after the date of application.